Post #300: A DOUBLE GIVEAWAY!

Nov 30, 2009 | Score!

I can’t believe I’m already at post #300 (well, technically #302…but you’ll overlook that, right?;-). It’s been a long time in coming, and you guys have all stuck with me and this blog through my incessant, mad raving and endless trite posts. Heh heh.

So I wanted to reward you guys for sticking with me…and so, to commemorate the occasion, I decided to go with a theme: flowers for Spring, since we all know it’s coming eventually…and a DOUBLE GIVEAWAY!

GIVEAWAY ITEM #1:

Forever21 Satin Tea Party Dress
in Cream/Pink Flowered Print
Size M (U.S.)


Featuring a padded sweetheart bustline, elasticized back, center back zip closure, pleated tulip-shape skirt, and watercolor floral print. (Exact orientation of print is ever-so-slightly different than on dress above.)
Approximate Retail Value: $24.60

GIVEAWAY ITEM #2:

Insight The Halliwell Top
in the moody grey-and-black flowered print below
Size 6 U.S. (AUS/UK 10; EU 38; CAN M)

A stretchy top with 3/4-length sleeves with double cut-outs and button detail; V-neck with a keyhole back and working button detail at back neck.
Approximate Retail Value $37


Insight is an Australian brand well-known for their fantastic denim, with an edgy urban feel to their line. (I’m partial to their fabulous Beanpole Ripped Jeans, pictured at left. You can buy Insight clothing at online stores like RevolveClothing, Karmaloop.com, and UrbanOutfitters (as well as in-store).

Unfortunately I only have ONE of each item, sized as stated above…so you can’t choose your size – they’re both MEDIUM.

How to enter?

1. Follow this blog. I want to reward my faithful readers!:-D (If you’re not a follower yet – become one!)

2. And second, leave a comment on this post with:

***which item you want (you have to chose ONE for your initial entry!)
***your email addy so I can contact you if you win! (If you don’t leave an email address and there isn’t one in your profile, I’m going to pick another winner – so make sure!)

Entry period is from now until Dec 13, at 12 PM PST. Winner will be chosen by Random.org. Entry open to anyone, worldwide.:-)

Extra entries?

 

Tweet this giveaway, blog this giveaway, post on your Facebook page…each time you promote it, comment back here with a link to where you promoted it and you’ll get an extra entry! (In you extra entry stating where you promoted this giveaway, you can also choose the other item as the one you want.

12/16 edit: Entry period for this giveaway is now closed and the winners have been chosen.

Thanks for reading, as always!
xoxox
Carly

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ShopItToMe: A Fast, Fuss-Free Way to Get Your Favorite Brands on Sale!

Nov 29, 2009 | Fashion

Image from NYTimes.com
So with holiday shopping looming ahead for most of us who didn’t get that head start already yesterday and today, finding the right item at that bargain price can be the biggest pain. Especially at this time of year. I don’t know about you guys, but I usually try to stay out of the retail stores this year and take advantage of the myriad of online sales out there – as well as free shipping and other discounts on the net.

Problem is, I just don’t have the time to comparison-shop. Sure, if I’m looking for something specific I’ll usually Google it, look it up on Amazon, or enter it into some comparison shopping engine like Shopping.com or Bizrate.com.

But most of the time I have no idea what I’m looking for. Like an affordable (but nice) handbag for my handbag-collecting sister-in-law, a piece of chunky jewelry for my mom, a stylish trenchcoat for my best friend, a pair of jeans for Hub, a couple of sweaters for my son…and maybe something for myself while I’m at it…in any case, my holiday shopping list is comprised less of household bric-a-bric and more of clothing, accessories, and useful everyday wears.Enter ShopItToMe, a virtual “personal shopper” search engine that scours the internet for the best deals on brands you specify – and then emails them straight to your inbox, however often you want. You can get info on not only women’s, but men’s and children’s brands as well – perfect for crossing everyone in the family off that gift list. The list of brands it searches for is extensive – everything from Yves St. Laurent to Free People to American Apparel. And so is its list of retailers – from Macy’s to Shopbop to TheOutnet is searched according to your criteria. The site also suggests other brands you may like based on your original brand selections – and, when you receive an email, by providing feedback for each item by clicking the “Love it” or “Hate it” button below, you allow the search engine to send you increasingly more specific items tailored to your tastes.An example email from the ShopItToMe service.

It’s a fun and fabulous way to get great suggestions emailed to you without you ever having to life a finger – or stand in long checkout lines – or elbow your way through the sales at the mall. Click – click – done! Now that’s what I call holiday shopping!

(And ShopItToMe is not just for the holiday season of course – I’ve been using it for awhile to get the latest and greatest deals on my faves year ’round.)

And check out their Trendsetters section – which has a great selection of fashion blogs of note – including Chickdowntown, AFewGoodyGumdrops, theMakeupDivas, WhereDidUGetThat, theStylePA, Kristopher Dukes, …and yours truly!

Happy (discount) Shopping!
-Carly J. Cais

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Don’t Buy, DIY: Christian Louboutin for Rodarte Super-Spiked Heels

Nov 28, 2009 | DIY


This was a lo-o–ooooong time in coming. Hope you guys didn’t get bored waiting!:-)

The highly, highly coveted Christian Louboutin for Rodarte spike heels – only sold for a short time at Christian Louboutin boutiques in Fall of ’08, never showing up at Net-a-Porter, not ever appearing on eBay. Victoria Beckham even stepped out in the gorgeous gold ones below. But how to get a pair for oneself?

Source: StyleFrizz.com

The RedSole version.

Of course, you could always fork over $188 for the black knockoffs over at RedSole (or here for the gold ones, pictured above). They’ve changed that texturized (Swarovski-encrusted?) area on the toe to snakeskin, and the heel isn’t as high or as skinny, but it’s a fairly good knockoff…if you want to pay $188.

(source: Fashion Mongers)
You could always DIY your own following the instructions at Fashion Mongers here for a similar style also in the Rodarte line.
But I wanted the exact same style as the shoes above on the right, butin black- and I haven’t found any DIY tutes out there on the Internet yet (correct me if I’m wrong!:-) So here ya go – step by step!

I have to break the process into multiple steps, since this is quite long though not excessively complicated. So, in 4 Parts:

To DIY Your Own Pair of Rodarte Spiked Heels You Will Need: (after the jump)

(more…)

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A Few Things I’m Thankful For!

Nov 26, 2009 | Life

So it’s Thanksgiving and instead of groaning and griping about the things I don’t have (an activity that I indulge in 98% of the year) I wanted to share with all of you things that I am thankful for (and there are really, truly alot! – so here are the best of the best):

1. My family and friends. So glad to have you, so glad that you’re there, so glad we’re all well (except for my uncle, who’s struggling with cancer, so my thoughts are also with him. He’s battling it bravely and seems to be coming out on top, though, so there’s another thing I’m quite thankful for.) You’re all so dear to me!

2. Time-outs. I liberally give them to my son, my dog, and even to myself. Life is sooooo much better with time-outs! LOL

3. That we live in a time where technology fuels creativity. It’s been a long time coming (and wish that it had been around, say, 10 years ago when I could have really thrown myself wholeheartedly into this blogging-thang…) but even so…I’m so, so glad that it’s finally here and all this potential for amazing things is out there on the internet. And that I have the ability to share that creativity with all of you!

4. Chocolate. Could not function without it. In any form.

5. All of you! 😀 I can’t put into words how much I appreciate that there are people out there who visit my site, read what I write, and are kind enough to comment if something I’ve written tickles their fancy or inspires them. This blog definitely wouldn’t exist without any of you – and I wouldn’t spend all the time I do on it if there was no one reading! (If a tree falls in the forest and all that sort ‘o thing.) Thank you so much for being there – checking in on me from time to time – reading – commenting – sending me inquiries and photos of things you’ve made – and all your support and helpfulness – I appreciate each and every one of you! You are all my inspiration…so a huge THANK YOU direct from me!

What are you guys thankful for?
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
xoxo
Carly

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It’s Black Friday! Visit my CafePress or Zazzle Stores and Get a Head Start on Holiday Shopping!

Nov 26, 2009 | Fashion, Life

A little bit of shameless self-merchandising to bore you with!:-)

Get a jump start on all that holiday shopping by visiting my Cafepress Store Kinder Acts of Random or my carlyjcais Zazzle Shop!

 

FOR THE GAMER/NERD/
GUY WITH A WEIRD SENSE OF HUMOR

 

Items in this set from my CafePress and Zazzle Stores

As you can I’ve made a whole lot of designs to choose from! (And they’re all a little bit random, a little bit wry, a little bit tongue-in-cheek…you get my drift. If this stuff appeals to you, then great!) And you can get almost all the above designs on different shirts and items than those pictured, like hats, tiles, stickers, and ladies’ tops, just to let ya know!:-)

And you didn’t think I’d ask for something without giving something in return, now did you?:-)

For CafePress orders, enter code FREEBIRD5 to receive free shipping on orders of $50 or more!

For Zazzle orders, enter code GIVEZAZZLE09 at checkout to save 10% off your entire order!
AND…here’s some other FABULOUS Zazzle promo codes for you only valid 11/26 starting 3 PM PST to 11/27):

(for all discounts to be applied above, enter code ZAZZLEFRIDAY at checkout)

Thank you for looking and Happy Holiday Shopping! (Even if you go elsewhere;-)
xoxox
Carly

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Don’t Buy – D.I.Y.! A Fantastic ShinkyDink Plastic Necklace

Nov 25, 2009 | DIY

80s huge plastic necklaces

While the economic news of the past couple of seasons has been somber & depressing, accessories have been anything but! Bold, funky, colored, and exuberant pieces crafted from unusual, low-end materials like plastic, acrylic have a larger-than-life 80’s feel but with modern, penny-pinching sensibilities – the perfect counterpoint to a sleek dress or structured, tweedy suit. Inspired by the likes of Marni and Alex + Chloe, we’ve put together this little D.I.Y. so you can outfit yourself with bold shapes cut out of shrink plastic and layered with mirror for the ultimate Eighties Revival Necklace.

This is what you’ll need:

*shrink plastic (found at the craft store or online at ShrinkyDinks.com; we chose the pack of Ultra Thick Misty White shrink plastic for about $7)
*sheet of cuttable mirrored plastic (craft store or online at Scrapbook.com)
*glue (like GOOP)
*jump rings
*chain necklace
*scissors
*sheet of cardboard (if using an oven to bake the shrink plastic), or a heat gun
*pen
*awl, thick needle, or other sharp instrument
*pliers

 

MAKE THE PENDANT SHAPES

1. Cut the shrink plastic into your desired shapes (such as randomly-sized triangles) to make pendant backings. Remember: Your plastic will shrink to about 45% of its original size – so cut almost twice as large as you want the finished piece to be!

2. Bake pieces in oven (or using heat gun) according to package directions.

3. Allow to cool. When cool, trace pendant shapes onto wrong side of a sheet of mirrored plastic.

4. Cut out mirrored plastic and glue onto shrunk plastic pendant backings.

80s necklace how to

ATTACH TO NECKLACE

5. Using an awl, thick needle, or other sharp tool (it works best when heated), poke a hole at the top of each of your pendant pieces.

6. Add jumprings and attach to chain necklace.

VOILA! A girl can never have too many shiny, mirrored things in her life! Pair over a white tee and some dark skinny jeans for a rocker, glam-girl vibe; layer under tangled chains and rhinestones for a Renaissance revival; or let it stand on its own as a statement necklace with a gorge printed wrap dress.

Rather not do all the cutting and baking yourself? Order your pendant pieces ready-made at Ponoko.com, where you can get your own sheets of mirrored plastic, acrylic, vinyl, or balsa wood lasercut to your specifications. String onto a necklace or earrings and enjoy your creation – or even sell your finished products through their marketplace.

TIP: Don’t be afraid to experiment further with shrink plastic! Besides making pendants, you can also form bracelets and rings, make tags and charms, craft buttons, curl it over while warm to create 3D shapes…the possibilities are only limited by your imagination. You can stamp it, paint it, airbrush it, lacquer it, decoupage it, marble it, or add crystals or heat-fix studs. It’s a really interesting medium that lends itself superbly to a variety of different designs – and allows you to mimic the look of designer accessories for very little investment.

Happy DIY’ing!

-Carly J. Cais, Contributing Editor

(as posted on FashionTribes)

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America’s Most Stylish Blogger Competition: Challenge #5: The Tie-Dye Legging

Nov 24, 2009 | Fashion, Score!

Are tie-dye leggings a fashion risk? Not when they’re on-trend! (And if you’ll remember, I wore a similar piece in Week #1 of this competition and had the experts reluctant to endorse them then. But the fashion tides have turned!)

Pairing these Plan B Charcoal Tie-Dyed Stretch Leggings with rock-chic accessories and an XL men’s t-shirt turned into a dress, it’s the way to go for an evening out on the town or a fashionable soiree. Super-spiked shoes (with extra straps, buckles, studding, and texturizing added to a pair of platform stripper heels), a magazine clutch (a clutch with a magazine cover glued to it), rhinestone earring turned into hand jewelry, a pyramid ring (okay, I’ll admit I didn’t make this one), and a long dangling chain earring complete the look and keep it edgy and glam. Say what’s on your mind on your shirt using velcro letters – a total 80’s throwback – and be a little in-your-face and tongue-in-cheek all at the same time.

Styling Tip: Run out of things to wear in your own closet? Raid the BF’s! (That’s BoyFriend – not Best Friend – unless your bestie happens to be male!) Oversized tees work great as dresses – and are experiencing a huge fashion comeback right now. Belt at the waist if you want to inject a little femininity to the look.

Thanks for looking and I’d love to have your vote on StyleList.com and Bluefly.com!

xoxox
Carly J. Cais

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